The Dandenong Local - Issue #9

G'day, and welcome to Issue #9.

This week's Big Story has claws — Greater Dandenong's cat curfew is under fire, with a former mayor calling for it to be scrapped and a $736,000 blowout in the council's pound contract putting real numbers behind the debate. Readers had their say too, and the results might surprise you.

Two big council items were considered at Monday night's meeting — the $1 billion Dandenong Market Precinct Plan and a push to rein in councillors' Canberra conference costs — but outcomes weren't published in time for this issue. We'll confirm both next week. There's better news on the infrastructure front: the new Webster Street underpass is set to open two years ahead of schedule.

Police have made an arrest in a $17.5 million organised crime investigation with links to Keysborough — full details in Safety Update, along with a heads-up on a national emergency alert test next Monday. This week's Suburb Spotlight heads out to Bangholme — Greater Dandenong's quietest corner — and we've got a Resident Voice held over from a few issues back, plus a call-out for Only in Dandenong since nothing landed in the inbox this week. Joke of the Week comes from Michael in Dandenong.

— Topher, Editor · The Dandenong Local

Ex-mayor says scrap the cat curfew as pound costs blow out by $736,000.

Greater Dandenong's 12-hour cat curfew, introduced in 2024 to tackle an overpopulation of ferals and strays, is facing calls for a review from former mayor Roz Blades — and the numbers are giving the argument some weight. Since the curfew began, cat impounds have soared from around 700 a year to over 1,000, pushing the council's contract with the Lost Dogs Home to a revised $2.73 million over 18 months, a $736,000 blowout on the original figure.

Ms Blades points to the real problem underneath the cost: with a cat registration rate of just 15 per cent and an estimated 20,000 unregistered cats across the municipality, most of the animals being trapped are feral, with no registered owner to return them to or fine — meaning ratepayers foot the bill either way. Council is now considering running its own pound rather than continuing to outsource, with a report describing "a number of options to minimise our financial risks" under review over the next 18 months. The current LDH contract expires 13 August and will be replaced by a transitional agreement running to 30 June 2027.

We asked, and you answered: a reader poll run by the Star Journal found 74 per cent support a dedicated Community Cat Program, 64 per cent backed Trap-Neuter-Release over impounding, and 52 per cent wanted cheaper desexing made available. A council spokesperson said benchmarking on the curfew's effectiveness is underway, with results expected later this year.

What this means for you: if you've got an unregistered cat, this is the moment to get it done — registration is $15–$45 a year depending on desexing status, and it's the difference between a trapped cat coming home or not. Read full story here.

Bangholme

Postcode 3175 · Approx. 31km SE of Melbourne CBD

If you've never had a reason to visit Bangholme, you're not alone — with a population of just 749 at the last census spread across 30 square kilometres, it's easily the quietest corner of Greater Dandenong. Tucked into the South East Green Wedge, most of the land is either small rural holdings and horse acreage, or occupied outright by Melbourne Water's Eastern Treatment Plant. EastLink cuts straight through it, but there's no train station of its own — Lynbrook, a few kilometres off, is the nearest link to the Cranbourne line.

What Bangholme lacks in shops and cafes, it makes up for in niche destinations. The National Water Sports Centre on the Patterson River hosts rowing, canoeing and water-skiing events year-round, while the Eastern Sward Golf Club and BlinkBonnie Equestrian Centre cater to a distinctly different crowd than you'll find anywhere else in the municipality. Willow Lodge Village, a mobile home lifestyle resort on Frankston-Dandenong Road, is home to a solid chunk of the local population.

There was even a Bangholme Post Office once, open from 1925 until it closed in 1943 — a small marker of a place that's always sat a little apart from the rest of Greater Dandenong. For residents, that's not a drawback. It's semi-rural living within EastLink reach of everything else, and a green wedge buffer most of the south east lost to development long ago.

Keysborough man arrested in $17.5 million organised crime investigation

Police have arrested a 40-year-old Keysborough man as part of an ongoing investigation into alleged large-scale drug trafficking and money laundering linked to an organised crime syndicate. The investigation, led by the Criminal Proceeds Squad, has identified at least 41 cannabis grow houses operating across Victoria since 2019, with the syndicate allegedly using properties across the state to launder profits. In August 2025, police restrained 14 properties worth approximately $17.5 million, including addresses in Keysborough. The investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with information should contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report online.

Springvale foot patrols flag cars left with valuables on show

Springvale Police conducted foot patrols through the CBD last week, checking liquor licences, meeting store owners and shoppers, and checking over 60 vehicles parked in local car parks. Officers spotted valuable items left openly on display in a number of cars — a straightforward theft risk. Worth a reminder: keep belongings out of sight and your car locked, even for a quick errand.

National emergency alert system to be tested Monday 27 July

AusAlert, Australia's new national warning system, will be tested at 2pm on Monday 27 July. All compatible mobile devices in Australia will receive a Critical Alert at the same time — don't be alarmed if your phone buzzes. If you're driving during the test, normal mobile phone laws still apply, so don't touch your phone behind the wheel.

This week's racing-crash court update is covered above. More info here.

Got a view on something happening in Greater Dandenong? Hit reply — or send to [email protected]

"How do you tell a kebab to be quiet?"

"Sshhh kebab."

— Michael, Dandenong

Got a good one? Send it to [email protected]

Thanks for reading Issue #9. Whatever side of the cat curfew debate you land on, get those cats registered — it genuinely makes a difference if they ever end up at the pound.

If you're heading out this week, take Springvale Police's tip and keep valuables out of sight in the car. And if you've got a true Dandenong moment worth sharing, see Only in Dandenong above — we'd love to hear it.

Know someone who'd get something out of this — forward it on. Free. Always.

See you next Wednesday. ☀️

— Topher · The Dandenong Local

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Greater Dandenong's Independent Weekly · Published every Wednesday 8am